News

2014-02-20

AMERICA/MEXICO - Prevention is not enough: Church, state and society must work together to combat human trafficking

Tlaxcala (Agenzia Fides) – Human trafficking for the purpose of sexual exploitation has put Tlaxcala in the eyes of the whole world, but the "sad reality" of forced sexual exploitation, unfortunately, occurs in many other places. On the issue, the Bishop of Tlaxcala, His Exc. Mgr. Francisco Moreno Barrón has raised his voice in his weekly message spread through social media, which was also sent to Fides.
Mgr. Moreno Barron said: "Our diocese in Tlaxcala, is no exception to this sad reality, and even if people are talking about a single community (where this scourge exists), we all know that human trafficking is present in many cities of our country, and we have been living this painful situation for fifty years". Some victims of trafficking said they are forced to endure terrible abuse every day, they are not treated as people, they are just goods, commercial and sexual objects.
According to data from the Public Prosecutor's Office, continued the Bishop, between 2009 and 2013, there were over 170 complaints for the crime of human trafficking, while other state reports say that tlaxcaltecas networks operate in more than half of the states of the Mexican Republic and beyond. "A sad reality that puts Tlaxcala in the eyes of the whole world", he said.
For Mgr. Francisco Moreno Barrón in order to combat this serious problem of trafficking, the cooperation of the Church, the government and society is required for its complete eradication. The diocese of Tlaxcala has promoted through various means of communication, awareness and prevention of the crime of trafficking, but effective action is essential by the authorities at various levels, to strengthen the programs of action for the prevention of forced sexual exploitation, for the rescue of victims and for their protection, as well as to punish those responsible.
The area of Tlaxcala is located in the vicinity of Mexico City, the capital of the country, and on the route of Central Americans who want to emigrate to the United States, many of whom fall into the powerful networks of traffickers. (CE) (Agenzia Fides 20/02/2014)